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Friday, August 28, 2009

Bill Would Give President Emergency Control Of Internet

Internet companies and civil liberties groups were alarmed this spring when a U.S. Senate bill proposed handing the White House the power to disconnect private-sector computers from the Internet.


They're not much happier about a revised version that aides to Sen. Jay Rockefeller, a West Virginia Democrat, have spent months drafting behind closed doors. CNET News has obtained a copy of the 55-page draft of S.773 (excerpt), which still appears to permit the president to seize temporary control of private-sector networks during a so-called cybersecurity emergency.


The new version would allow the president to "declare a cybersecurity emergency" relating to "non-governmental" computer networks and do what's necessary to respond to the threat. Other sections of the proposal include a federal certification program for "cybersecurity professionals," and a requirement that certain computer systems and networks in the private sector be managed by people who have been awarded that license.


"I think the redraft, while improved, remains troubling due to its vagueness," said Larry Clinton, president of the Internet Security Alliance, which counts representatives of Verizon, Verisign, Nortel, and Carnegie Mellon University on its board. "It is unclear what authority Sen. Rockefeller thinks is necessary over the private sector. Unless this is clarified, we cannot properly analyze, let alone support the bill."


Representatives of other large Internet and telecommunications companies expressed concerns about the bill in a teleconference with Rockefeller's aides this week, but were not immediately available for interviews on Thursday.

GO HERE to read more from CNET News.

9 comments:

Anonymous said...

reminds me of the Bush/Cheney reduction of american freedom tactics.

Anonymous said...

I did not see one word in this posting about Al Gore giving his permission for such a thing.

Did he not say he invented the internet!

Tee said...

this terrorist we have in office and has filled the white house wants to control every aspect of our lives, not to mention he wants to celebrate 9/11.

raise your hand if you think he'll make it to 2012?

joealbero said...

ParkAndRide, change the name or your posts won't go up. You know what I'm talking about, or haven't you noticed nothing of yours has been posted?

Anonymous said...

Tee-

You should go to jail for postings like this.

Anonymous said...

how stupid how does one go about disconnecting people The internet isnt a place to disconnect from and you think the cable and telephone people are going to give up revenue for the service PLEASE

Anonymous said...

Our government has operated under the emergency powers act since WWII.

Anonymous said...

Absolutely keep your hands off my internet! Amendment #1

Anonymous said...

All of those who voted for Obama will be the first to start whining about all of the freedoms lost as a result of Obama.
Obamabots, this guys deeds are stuck all over you!